The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is calling for national statutory registration of social workers. Statutory registration is instrumental to ensure all 46,300 social workers across Australia are practising to safe, ethical and high professional standards. 

We need the national registration of the social work profession for: 

• Public safety A public register of practitioners and protection of the title ‘Social Worker’ ensures that only those with the requisite education and training who practise safely and ethically can work as a social worker. The public is protected from misconduct and negative outcomes from poor standards of practise. 

• Professional quality All social workers are regulated against consistent, high-quality, national professional standards. Social workers will be required to maintain a program of supervision, continuing professional development (CPD) and adhere to recency of practise requirements. 

• Professional accountability Registration includes statutory powers to investigate professional misconduct and mechanisms to place conditions on practise or to ban a social worker from practising. 

• Workforce mobility National registration makes it easier for social workers to work across different states and territories in Australia. This provides consistent protections for the public and improves access to services in South Australia and in other states and territories.